Grand South India Tour
Trip Info
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Trip Overview
Chennai - Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Pondicherry - Kumbakonam - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Calicut - Wayanad - Mysore - Hassan – Bangalore.
South India has evolved as a destination over the past two decades. Less flashy than the north, South India presents itself to travelers in a comparatively leisurely way. Everything is less busy, less noisy, the typical Indian traffic chaos is also present, but not as extreme as in the rest of the country. Economically, South India has also evolved into a particularly important part of the country, as it is home to Bangalore, the "Indian Silicon Valley". We visit national parks, travel on land and water, including houseboats, go hiking and sightseeing and immerse ourselves in the life of the south India, shaped by tradition and religion, but more focused on development and the future. What is particularly exciting in South India is the dominance of rurality rooted in natural habitats, vegetation, due to belonging to the tropical region of the country. In addition, there are the cities, which always tell a piece of colonial history and in which life is vibrant. The local cuisine is also fascinating, very spicy but offering wonderful taste experiences, and the hospitality of the people, who invite us into their villages and temples, is always impressive. Of course, South India is also the option to try the Ayurvedic treatments for which the region is known. Travelling entirely by land, with no domestic flights to interrupt the flow of the trip, it is the ideal trip for anyone who wants to see all of its facets in a comprehensive and sustainable way, and in just three weeks.
Trip Highlights
- Explore South India culturally and historically important for every traveller
- The highlights between the east and west coasts
- Fascinating South Indian temple architecture in Tamil Nadu
- Tropical Kerala with its lush vegetation
- In a houseboat through the impressive backwaters
- Numerous natural paradises and culturally and historically highlights
- Prayer ceremony in the Meenakshi Temple
- With the Wayanad Hills and the garden city of Mysore
- Safari in the Nilgiri nature reserve
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Chennai (previoully know Madras), meet to our representative and transfer to our prebooked hotel. After breakfast commence Chennai sightseeing. Including Kapaleeswarar Temple and San Thome Cathedral. We then drive to Mamallapuram (50 km, approx 1.5 hours).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included
Mamallapuram plays an important role in the history and architecture of India and therefore has great significance for archaeology lovers. It is the only place in India where cave architecture, monolithic architecture and structural architecture still exist together. On our exploration tour we visit the Shore Temple, bas-reliefs and five chariots (Rathas). These rock-cut temples are considered to be excellent examples of Pallava art.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Breakfast at hotel. Later on the way to Pondicherry (100 km, approx. 2 hours) we visit Auroville, a multicultural experiment based on the social theory of Sri Aurobindo. After arriving in Pondicherry, a city tour awaits us. Buildings from the French colonial period still give the city a special character.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
Our tour takes us to Kumbakonam (175 km, approx. 4 hours). On the way we will visit the Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram temples, masterpieces of Chola architecture and UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the evening a cooking demonstration awaits us at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Early in the morning we visit Asia's second largest vegetable market at Darasuram. We will then head to Thanjavur with its masterpiece of Chola architecture, the Brihadeeswarar Temple and Art Gallery. After returning to Kumbakonam, we take a bullock cart ride to a nearby village.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
We drove early to Madurai (230 km, approx. 5.5 hours). Here we visited the Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the famous Meenakshi Temple during ceremony. Overnight at Madurai
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Today we leave Tamil Nadu and cross the border to reach Kerala (135 km, approx. 3.5 hours). Our first stop here is Periyar. Here we see spice plantations and, depending on availability, go on a boat safari on the Periyar Lake or a walking tour in the national park.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
Early morning drive to Alleppey (140 km, approx. 4.5 hours). Here we board our houseboat, with which we make a leisurely trip through the picturesque lagoons and palm-lined canals of the backwaters. Overnight stay on houseboat.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
After disembarking, drive to Cochin (70 km, approx. 1.5 hours) and check in at the hotel. The afternoon is free for us and is suitable for a walk around the port or Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road. In the evening we attend a Kathakali dance performance.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
On a detailed sightseeing tour we discover all the beauties of Cochin: St. Francis Church, the Jewish Quarter with the old synagogue, the Mattancherry Palace and the famous Chinese fishing nets.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
After breakfast we will take train from Ernakulam railway station. Here we board the Jan Shatabdi Express train, which takes us through beautiful landscapes to Calicut. Here our driver picks us up again and takes us to our hotel in Wayanad (75 km, about 2 hours).
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
In the morning, we drive to typical villages. Here we are served a traditional lunch on a banana leaf. In the afternoon we visit the Edakkal caves and admire the carvings inside the caves. The variety of engravings shows that the Edakkal caves were inhabited at different times. The oldest of them dates back to 6000 B.C.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
After breakfast we start our journey for next destination. Our route takes us to Mysore today (150km, 4 hours). On the way we stop in the Nilgiri nature reserve for a safari with a naturalist at Bandipur National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
We have a whole day at our disposal in the garden city of Mysore. We visit the Devraja market, Chamundi Hill and the city palace. In the afternoon we take a trip to Somnathpur, where we visit the Kesava Temple, one of the most beautiful examples of Hoyshala architecture.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included
On our way to Bangalore (150km, approx. 4 hours) we visit Srinagapatnam, the former capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. After our arrival in Bangalore, we have rooms at the hotel until our airport transfer.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner included.
After breakfast explore Bangalore city. Check out 12h00, as per your flight schedule one of our staff drop you at Bangalore International airport. End our services.
Trip Cost Includes
- A traditional welcome on arrival at Chennai International Airport.
- All in out transfer, sector drive and city sightseeing as per above program
- All toll tax parking fuel and driver’s allowance
- English Speaking City Guide (as per above program)
- One time monuments entrance
- Entire trip with breakfast & dinner. (Except Chennai)
- Boat Ride at Periyar
- Spice Planation visit at Thekkady (Periyar)
- Rickshaw Ride old town at Pondicherry
- Park ride at Bandipura NP (Canter Sharing Basis)
- Cochin (Erankulam) – Kozhikkode (Calicut) train in ac chair car
- All activities as per above mentioned program
- Mineral water bottle (1Lt) per day.
- A farewell dinner in last day.
Trip Cost Excludes
- Any personal expenses
- Any Domestic or International flight fare
- Tip, laundry, lunch en route, table drinks,
- Any suppliant (guide, activities, park ride etc.) price.
- Anything else that is not mentioned in the “Price Includes” section.
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